BOISE, Idaho — THIS DAY IN SPORTS…August 19, 1984, 40 years ago today:
Lee Trevino, one of golf’s most popular all-time players, wins his second PGA Championship, the sixth and final major title of his career. In fact, that would be his last PGA Tour victory. Trevino finished 15-under for the tournament and became the first player ever to shoot under 70 in each of the four rounds of the PGA Championship. Trevino is one of only four players to twice win the U.S. Open, British Open and PGA Championship. He never won the Masters.
To say Trevino’s beginnings were humble would be an understatement. He was raised in Garland, TX, and was in and out of school growing up, working in the cotton fields by the time he was five. Trevino eventually became obsessed with golf, and at 14 he dropped out of school to become a caddie. That gave him a way to practice, and practice, and practice. Trevino was entirely self-taught. And after a stint in the Marine Corps from ages 17-21, it was all golf.
Trevino landed a job as a club pro in El Paso, and in 1966 he qualified for the U.S. Open and made the cut, earning $600. He became a full-time tour pro in 1967 and qualified for the Open again, this time finishing fifth. Then in 1968, his second season, he won the thing. Trevino quickly became one of the PGA Tour’s top attractions. His biggest thrill was winning the 1971 U.S. Open in a playoff over Jack Nicklaus. Trevino went on to be named 1971 Sports Illustrated “Sportsman of the Year.” Trevino captured 29 PGA Tour victories in his career and had 166 top 10 finishes.
Then there are Trevino’s contributions to golf, both technically and philosophically. Just last week a story in Golf.com talked about Trevino’s role in popularizing the 7-wood, now a common sight in the bags of pros and amateurs alike. Trevino was always looking for a competitive edge, and he had a custom 7-iron designed for him in the 1970s before it was even called that. For one thing, it was a way to get out of the rough with higher loft and better bite.
But when Trevino’s hitting a wedge, he stresses mind over club. In another Golf.com feature, he compares it to swatting a fly. “Say, for instance, that fly was there and I tried to tell you to swing at that fly, but I want you to hit it and knock it into the wall,” Trevino said “I wouldn’t hit down, I would sweep it” golf instructor Parker McLachlin replies. “Never kill a fly when you play golf,” Trevino exclaims. “Never kill a fly!”
(Tom Scott hosts the Scott Slant segment during the football season on KTVB’s Sunday Sports Extra. He also anchors four sports segments each weekday on 95.3 FM KTIK and one on News/Talk KBOI. His Scott Slant column runs every Wednesday.)
